Couch having a divided resting-surface.



- H. 1.. MULLER; COUCH HAVING A DIVIDED RESTING SURFACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1916- Patenteul Feb. 5, 1918. I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- v H. 1. MULLER. COUCH HAVING A DIVIDED RESTINGSURFACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1916- Patented Feb. 5,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- By 1K? H. 1. MULLER. COUCH HAVING A DIVIDED RESTINGSURIfACE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3| I916.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. J. Millie r,

Inventor: I M I I e HEINRICH JULIUS iviunnnn, or scnnsrnnusnn, swrrznnr.1:1

ooucn HAVING A nivinnn merino-seamen.

Application filed June 3, 1916. Serial No. 101,489.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, HEINRICH JULIUS Miittnn, a citizen of the Republicof Switzerland, residing at Schaflhausen, in'the Canton. ofSchalfhausen, Republic of Switzer land, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Couches Hatdng Divided Resting-Surfaces; and I dohereby declare the following to be a fuli. clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved couch having adivided resting surface. In couches having a head section hinged to alower part made in one or more pieces, in elevating and depressing thehead section, great friction is produced between the same and themattress located on both sections, which prevents an easy shifting ofthe head section.

The present invention has for its object to avoid this friction'betweenthe head section and the mattress, and thereby provide an easy movementof the head section. This object is eifected by separating the pivotedhead section and the pivoted body section at their abutting ends, andconnecting them together outside of the said ends by means ofintermediate devices in such a manner that the abutting ends of the twosections shall rock away from each other in the elevating of the headsection, and shall rock toward each other in the depressing of the bodysection. By this arrangement the mattress is enabled to bend downwardlyto such. an extent as to avoid all tendency to shifting and frictionbetween itself and the head section, whereby an easy movement of thelatter is obtained.

Furthermore, according to this invention,

the foot section is adapted to be elevated and depressed independentlyof the head without exertion by the person lying on the couch. For thispurpose a portion of the resting surface is bent downward, and the footis fixed on a crank shaft comprising two cams to which are attachedflexible tensile members connected to raising springs. By this means theraising force is rendered approximately equal. at the beginning and atthe end of the straining of the springs. For the purpose of locking thefoot Specification of Letters Patent.

atente Feb.- 5,11...

section in its adjusted position, a hand -lever is employed which isfixed on a shaft connected to the crank shaft, but which however canrotate in the axial direction of its own shaft. This lever has lockingteeth which. is adapted to lee-engaged by a spring intoa stationarytoothed locking sector. 4

The improved couch allows even a person who is suffering from pains inthe body tobring himself into any desired sittin posit1on, and to bringhis feet into any esired position of inclination, without straining hisabdominal muscles and without other help, within the range of the lyingand sitting positions.

Some embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in wh1ch Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4-. illustrate one embodiment,

Fig. 1 being a longitudinal central sec tion on the line I-I of Fig. 2,

Fig. .2 being a plan,

Fig. 3 being a front end elevation, and

Fig. 4 being a cross section on the line Referring to the example shownin Fi s.

1 to 4; 1 is an upper frame pivoting on pins 2 and forming the headsection, and 3 is a lower frame forming the body section of the couchpivoting on pins 45 (see Figs. 1 and 4:) carried by the frame 12. Theabutting ends of the head and body sections 1 and 3 are separate fromeach. other and are connected to each other outside the abutting edges,on each side by means of dependent scissorslike bars 5 and 6 jointedtogether at their lower ends. This separation of the abutting edges ofthe head and body sections 1 and 3 and the scissorslike connection ofthese parts allow, in the elevating of the head section 1 (see dot anddash lines in Fig. 1), of the abutting edges of the head and bodysections rocking away from each other, and thus allow a free andcomplete bending or folding of the mattress 7 resting on the saidsections. Consequently, inthe 1 In order to prevent any possible nippingof the mattress 7 in the depressing movement of the head section 1,there is ar ranged on each side piece of the head section 1 a hingedflap 13 which is angular in cross section, and which bears loosely onthe oppositely located side piece of the body section 3, and whichbridges over the gap between the head and body sections when the formerhas been elevated.

The pivot pins '2 of the upper part 1 are mounted in brackets '14supported on the side pieces of thesupporting frame 12.

For the purpose of increasing the easy mobility of the head section. 1,the pivot 'pins 2 are located in the side piecesof the head section andat such points as to allow the person lying on the mattress to adjusthis position in equilibrium with relation to the pivot pins 2, so thattilting movements of the. head section are avoided.

For the purpose of fixing the head and body sections 1 and 3 in theiradjusted positions, there is jointed to the supporting frame .12 one endof a bar 15 having a looking tooth 16, the other end of said barbeingpivot ed with a certain amount of play to a lever 17 that is fixedon a cross shaft 17 mounted in the supporting'frame 12. On each end ofthe shaft 17 there is mounted a short hollow arm 18 in which a longerarm 19 having a handle 20, is adapted to be inserted. 'According torequirement the arm 19 can be inserted into the right or left hollow arm18, and the shaft 17 be rotated Iwith the left or right hand. On thecross piece 21 of the head section 1 there is clamped a toothed are 22in the tooth spaces of which the locking tooth 16 can be engaged. Thetoothed are 22 is fixed rigidly .1 by means of two struts 23 to thecross piece of the head section 1.

A person using the couch lies on the two sections 1 and 3 in such amanner that he is in a position of equilibrium relatively to the pivotpins 2 of the head section. If he i 16 out'of the toothed are 22, andthen raises his head slightly. This slight shifting of the center ofgravity which is unaccompanied by any exertion, is sulficient to bringthe head section 1 into the desired sitting position. \Vhen it hasarrived in this position, the handle is turned toward the foot of thecouch, and by reengaging the locking tooth 16 into the toothed are 22,the head section is locked in its adjusted position. In the elevating ofthe head 1, the mutually facing ends of the side pieces of the upper andlower parts rock away from each other, and the hinged flaps 13 he overthe gaps formed between the said sections. By the moving away of theabutting ends of the head and body sections room is made for a free andcomplete bending of the mattress 7 so that the upper part of themattress has no tendency to slide up along thehead' section and producefriction at that place. By this free bending of the mattress and the adjustment of the person into a position of equilibrium relatively to thepivotal axis of the head section 1 (which serves as it. were as aweighing beam), such an easy change of position of the head section canbe ellected without the aid of another person, that it does not requireany exertion of the trunk muscles, which is very important, moreparticularly in the case of persons sulieriug from ailments of the trunkand requiring special care. In the elevating of the head section 1 theupper part of the body section 3 moves down with the rotation on thestationary pivot pins 4: located on the supporting frame 12.

If the said person wishes to change his sitting position for a recumbentposition, he pulls the handle 20 again toward himself and lays back hishead, whereby the head section 1 is depressed. The rocking of the handle20 toward the foot of the couch causes the tooth 16 to engage again inthe toothed arc, and thus the head section is locked in its depressedposition. As the elevating, so also the depressing of the head sectionis effected without any exertion and without tilting motion. In thedepressing of the head section 1, the mutually facing ends of the headand body sections rock a gain toward each other and close up the gapscovered by the flaps 13. I

The foot section 83 of the divided resting surface is adapted to beraised and lowered independently of the body and the head seetions. Thebody section 3 of the resting surface is stepped downward in order toprovide room for the movement of the foot sec tion 33. The frame-likefoot section 33 is fixed to the journals of a crank shaft 35 which isrotatably mounted in the cranked side bars 34 of the body portion 3resting surface. On each journal there is mounted a peripherally groovedeccentric 36 to which is attached one end of a wire cord 37, the otherend of which is connected to a spring 39 suspended from the cross bar 38of the I.

le sees of the side bars .34. The springs 39 are .designed towraise thefoot section 33, and the raising power is rendered approximately equalfor alldegrees ofrtensionof the springs by the action of the eccentrics.V.

The cranked portionofthe shaft 35is fixed rigidly by means of asupporting rod .40 to the cross piece 41 of the footsection 33, and isconnected :by means of a connecting rod 42 to a lever 44 fixed on theshaft 43. The outer :end of this shaft has mounted on it a locking handlever 45 having a' locking tooth 46 adapted atorengage a stationarytoothed are 47. Saidlever 45, in addition to its r0? tational movementwith the shaft .43 is adapted to rock outwardly as indicated in Fig. 9.The upper partofithe locking lever may also beadapted to fold over asshown in dot and dash linesin Fig. 1.

For the purpose .of bringing the footu33 fromthe horizontal position,see Fig. 1, to the inclined position shown in Fig. 7, the locking lever45 which is usually kept folded down, is raised, and then disengagedfrom the toothed are 47 .(in opposition to the action of a spring 48)and rotated toward the foot of the couch until the foot section of the.couch has assumed the desired angular position. Then the lever 45 isreleased whereupon it is caused by the spring 48 to reengage with thetoothed are 47, thereby locking the foot section in position. During thedownward movement ofthe cranked portion of the shaft 35 the eccentrics36 are turned upward, see Fig. 7 and the springs 39 are placed understress. The increased spring tension acts therefore upon the smallleverage of the eccentrics 36. or the purpose of raising the footsection into the initial position, the locking lever 45 is againdisengaged, so that the springs 39 which were placed under stress by thedepressing of the foot, are able to raise the foot with approximatelythe same force, because these springs when their force decreases actupon the eccentrics with an increasing leverage.

Finally the locking lever 45 is again engaged in the toothed are 47, andthe upper part of the locking lever is turned down.

7 If the shaft 43 of the hand lever 45 be exin surface.

Tn the modification shown in Fig. 5, the scissors-likev bars 5 and 6 aredirected upwardly; otherwise the construction is the same.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6', the

scissors-like bars 5 and 6 are extended beyond their common pivot 10,and the cartel sion of the bar 5 is pivoted by meansof .arod 24 to thelower part 3. The extension of the bar 6 .is pivoted by means of arod-25 to the upper part 1. a

The handle 20 may also be moved intoand held in the locking position bymeans of a spring.

The movable foot section 33 may beomitted. In such a case the bodysection 3'is not cranked and is rotatably mounted in bracle ets 50carried by the supporting frame 12 (Figs. 5 and .6).

The improved couch which is favorably distinguished by its extremelysimple con struction, may beconstructed as an insertion in wooden andmetal bedsteads, and it affords to all person both well and sick, theconvenience of ancxtremely easy and secure adjustability. Shocks andmovements such as rapid tilting-which are injurious to invalids, areavoided in the improved couch.

The disengagementof the locking tooth 16 from the toothed arc may beeffected also by other means, for example electric devices.

What I claim is 1. In an invalid bed, the combination of a a supportingframe, a head section pivoted to the frame, a body section pivoted tothe supporting frame and completely separated at its inner end from theabutting end of the head section, devices connectingthe abutting ends ofsaid sections and located outside of these ends and means for positivelyguiding the said connecting devices whereby the said ends are caused tomove in unison, to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rock away from.each other in the elevating movement of thehead section and toward eachother in the depressing movement of the head-section.

2. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame a headsection pivoted to the frame, a body section pivoted to the frame andcompletely separated at its in nor end from the abutting end of theheadsection, scissors-like arms connecting the abutting ends of sectionsand connected together and means for pesitively guiding the saidscissors like arms whereby the said ends are caused to move in unison,to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rock away from each other inthe elevating movement of the head section and toward each other in thedepressing movement of the headsection.

In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, a head sectionpivoted to the frame, a body-section pivoted to the frame andcompletelyseparated at its inner end from the abutting end of the head section,downwardly directed scissors like arms connecting the abutting ends ofsaid rods pivoted at one end to the frame and at the other end to thepoint of connection of said arms whereby theabutting ends of the headsection and body-section are caused to 7 move in unison, to keep inalinement, and are allowed to rock away from each other in the elevatingmovement of the head-section and toward each other in the depressingmovement of the head-section.

4.7 In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, a headsection pivoted to the frame, the pivot pins being located intermediatethe side pieces of the headsection, and so that the person using the bedcan assume a position of indifierent equilibrium relatively to the pivotof said head section andcan'thus use the said head section likethe beamof a balance, a pivoted body-section, pivoted at its foot end to thefoot end of the supporting frame, completely separated at its inner endfrom the abutting end of saidhead section, de-

' vices connecting the abutting ends of said sections, and means forpositively guiding the said connecting means whereby the said ends arecaused to move in unison, to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rockaway from each other in the elevating movement ofthe head-section, andtoward each other in the depressing movement of head-section.

5. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, ahead-section pivoted to the frame, a body section pivoted to thesupporting frame and completely separated at its inner end from theabutting end of the head-section, devices connecting the abutting endsof said sections and located outside of these ends, means for positivelyguiding the said connecting devices, whereby the said ends are caused tomove in unison, to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rock away fromeach other in the elevating V movement of the head-section and towardeach other in the depressing movementof i the head section, and meansoperable by the person on the bed for the purpose of locking said headsection. in. its adjusted position for use.

6. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame ahead-section pivoted to ,rock away from each other in the elevatingmovement of the head-section and toward each other in the depressingmovement of the head-section, a toothed arc fixed to said head section,a rocking arm with looking vpin adapted to engage the toothed are, a

shaft, a lever fixed on said shaft and pivoted to said rocking arm, anda hand lever fixed on said shaft for rotating said shaft,

7. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, ahead-section pivoted to the frame, a body-section pivoted to thesupporting frame and completely separated at its inner end from theabutting end of the head-section, devices connecting the abutting endsof said sections and located outside of these ends, means for positivelyguiding the said connecting devices, whereby the said ends are caused tomove in unison, to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rock away fromeach other in the elevating movement of the head-section and toward eachother in the depressing movement of the head-section, and a hinged flapfixed at each side to one of the said sections and adapted to bearfreely upon the other section for the purpose of bridging the gapsoccurring between the said sections and preventing the mattress frombeing nipped between said sections.

8. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, ahead-section pivoted to the frame, a body section pivoted to thesupportingframe and completely separated at its inner end from theabuttingend of the head-section, devices connecting the abutting ends ofsaid sections and located outside of these ends, means for positivelyguiding the said connecting devices, whereby the said ends are caused tomove in unison, to keep in alinement, and are allowed to rock away fromeach other in the elevating movement of the head-section and toward eachother in the depressing movement of the head-section, a foot-sectionpivotally connected to the foot portion of the body section, meansoperable by the person on the bed for raising and lowering said footsection, and means operable by the person on the bed for locking andunlocking said foot section.

9. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, ahead-section pivoted to the frame, a body-section having a stepped footportion pivoted to the supporting frame, a crank shaft movably mountedin the foot-portion of the body-section, a foot-section fixed on saidcrank shaft, eccentrics fixed on said crank shaft, raising springsconnected at one end to the frame and at the other to the eccentrics bymeans of flexible tensile devices, means operable by the person on thebed for operating said crank shaft, and means operable by the saidperson for locking and unlocking said footsection.

10. In an invalid bed, the combination of a supporting frame, a headsection pivoted to the frame, a body section having a stepped footportion pivoted to the supporting frame, a crank shaft movably mountedmemos inthe foot-portion of the body-section, a foot-section fixed onsaid crank shaft, eccentrics fixed on said crank shaft, raising springsconnected at one end to the frame and at the other to the eccentrics bymeans of flexible tensile devices, an axle connected to said crankshaft, a hand lever mounted on said-axle so as to rotate therewith butmovable in the axial direction of said axle, alocking tooth on said handlever, a stationary locking toothed are, and a spring having a tendencyto engage said hand lever in said locking toothed are.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 15 two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH JULIUS MULLER.

Witnesses:

HERMANN HUBER, CARL GUBLER.

flames of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washington, D. (2.,

